plumbing : fog horn toilet

Toothpick · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:07

After my neighbour flushes his toilet it makes a long drawn out groan that sounds like a ships fog horn. Sometimes it lasts for 30 seconds.

Does anyone know what causes this?

Bunka · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:08

You sure it's not your neighbour straining to lay a log?

DJMK4 · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:08

I would also like to know this, I think its to do with pressure in the system or something along those lines, possibly something that needs releasing or bleeding

Ours does this, the only way to stop it is to turn on the cold tap really quickly until the flushing stops, never actually got round to having a look online

McGray · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:11

Could be air in the system or his toilets fill valve.

Diesel · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:14

Mine did this and it turned out to be the rubber diaphram in the fill valve. I took it out and cleaned it and the problems went away for a while (a year give or take).

The groaning came back recently so I might just buy a replacement this time.

Atlas23 · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:15

Do you happen to live next to a fog horn on a ship?

Diagro · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:16

its the rubber diaphram. Ours did this so i replaced them.

D.P. · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:19

Sounds like a water hammer.

McGray · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:21

D.P. said:
Sounds like a water hammer.

No it doesn't.

pitchfork · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:21

Maybe that's his wife letting off gas?

Diesel · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:23

D.P. said:
Sounds like a water hammer.

Sounds nothing like water hammer.

Pabl0 · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:39

Change inlet valve in toilet or for now play with the stopcock as adjusting the pressure can give you a few months grace.

Toothpick · 6 Feb 2014 at 14:55

Bunka said:
You sure it's not your neighbour straining to lay a log?

Nope, but I can also hear that at night

I'll ask him to adjust the stopcock thing, thanks.

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 6 Feb 2014 at 15:09

Imy · 6 Feb 2014 at 15:12

Mine did this and was VERY loud. Worse still, it did it in the bathroom that's used by guests only.

Replacing the water inlet valve fixed the problem. The new one also fills faster and has a vertical float rather than a ball one so takes up far less space.

Arsonist · 6 Feb 2014 at 15:33

I do enjoy coming on these forums and being greeted with pictures of people's cisterns.
My throne does this all the time, I just turn on the cold tap and it seems to hush the incoming shipping vessel sound.

PapaLazaru · 6 Feb 2014 at 15:42

It is high water pressure in the pipe. They just need to turn the screw thing on it (don't know what it is called the bit that can turn the water off) a little to slow the water going into the cistern.

Manbatius · 6 Feb 2014 at 20:33

PapaLazaru said:
It is high water pressure in the pipe. They just need to turn the screw thing on it (don't know what it is called the bit that can turn the water off) a little to slow the water going into the cistern.

Stopcock?

Mickie · 7 Feb 2014 at 02:06

If it turns off with a screwdriver its called a service valve..

the noise is generated because of the breakdown of the cisterns valve.. if you service it, it'll stop..

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 7 Feb 2014 at 02:58